Bead chain with modified structure

ABSTRACT

A bead chain with modified structure, which is made by threading the beads of a specific shape to form a chain, and then joining the ends by means of buttons fixed at both ends, wherein some spacers are inserted between the beads to form an alternating pattern. The outer surfaces of the said spacers are engraved with lections, which are Sanskrit or Tibetan and the corresponding Chinese. The buttons at both ends of the bead chain are two separate half objects, which form a sphere or cylinder or the like after being joined. The outer surfaces of these half objects are engraved with lections. The bead chain according to the present invention reduces the cost.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to jewelry-making industry and, more particularly, to a bead chain used for counting prayers.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventional bead chains are made by processing the jade or other precious materials into specific shape, mainly spherical bead shape, punching a hole through the middle of each bead, threading the beads onto a string, cord or the like to form a chain, joining both ends of the chain by means of buttons to form a ring, which is called a bead chain. Bead chains with different size of rings, i.e. different length, can be made according to the number and size of beads. One function of the bead chain is for a religious person to twist the beads with fingers while reciting lections, e.g. twist a bead after completing every paragraph, in order to count the number of times of recitations of the lection. The buttons at either end of the string can be made into particular shape, for example, larger spherical or cylindrical shape or the like after being joined. When the user's fingers touch the buttons, the user's fingers can readily feel it, and at this time the fingers can move in the reverse direction to reach the buttons. Such can be done repetitively as the recitations continue.

Because the beads forming the bead chain are processed to be very polished and smooth, it is difficult to distinguish the beads by fingers and inconvenient to count the beads one by one if the diameters of the beads are fairly short. Furthermore, to form a long bead chain, large numbers of beads are needed to be threaded, which results in higher price and much more cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a novel bead chain, wherein a spacer is inserted between two beads forming the bead chain so as to separate the beads and to facilitate a user's counting of beads with the fingers. Moreover, the number of beads used to form the same length of the bead chain decreases correspondingly, which reduces the cost of the bead chain to some extent.

The bead chain according to the first aspect of the present invention, is made by threading the beads of a specific shape onto a string or cord to form a chain, and then joining the ends of the chain by means of buttons fixed at both ends of the string or cord, wherein some spacers are inserted between the beads to form an alternating pattern.

The bead chain according to the second aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the surfaces of said spacers are engraved with characters.

The bead chain according to the third aspect of the present invention is characterized in that said characters engraved on the surfaces of the spacers are lections.

The bead chain according to the fourth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that said characters engraved on the surfaces of spacers are Sanskrit or Tibetan characters and the corresponding Chinese characters of lections.

The bead chain according to the fifth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that said buttons at both ends of the bead chain are two separate hemispherical objects, whose outer surfaces are engraved with lections, such as Six-Word Apothegm in the sutra.

The bead chain according to the sixth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that said buttons form a spherical or cylindrical shape after being joined.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is the schematic view of the bead chain before the buttons are joined according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is the schematic view of the bead chain in use after the buttons are joined according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is the schematic view of the bead chain before the buttons are joined according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the bead chain of the present invention comprises beads 1, spacers 2, buttons 3 at both ends, and the string (not shown). Beads 1 and spacers 2 are arranged alternately therein, that is, one spacer 2 is inserted between every two beads 1. There are through holes in the middle of every bead 1 and spacer 2, through which a string passes to form a chain of alternate beads and spacers. At either end of the string of the bead chain buttons 3 are fixed respectively. Buttons 3 consist of two hemispherical metal objects, in the middle of the inside of which are respectively a nut 4 and a screw 5 as connecting pieces. FIG. 1 shows the sectional view of the hemispherical button 3 with the nut 4, illustrating the inner screw thread structure of the nut 4. A spherical or cylindrical object or the like forms after the two hemispherical buttons are joined.

FIG. 2 is the schematic view of the bead chain in use after the buttons are joined according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the two buttons 3 at both ends of the bead chain shown in FIG. 1 are joined via the nut 4 and the screw 5 to form a ring, that is, the ordinary condition in use of the bead chain. After being joined the two halves of the buttons form a spherical or cylindrical object or the like, which is usually distinctly different from beads 1 and spacers 2 with respect to size, shape and outer surface, making it convenient for users to be aware when fingers reach the joined buttons 3 and then start to move in the reverse direction.

Spacer 2 is usually made into a spherical or cylindrical object or the like, whose outer surface is engraved with convex grains or lines to increase friction. In the examples of the present invention, lections are engraved on the outer surfaces of the spacers. Usually every spacer is engraved with one word (character) of some lections that are commonly used and every word is shown in two forms, i.e., Sanskrit or Tibetan character and Chinese character. The number of spacers 2 on a bead chain is usually equal to that of words in a paragraph of lection. The paragraph of lection can be completely engraved on spacers 2 of the bead chain since the number of words of the lections corresponds with that of the spacers 2 one by one.

Button 3 is also engraved with Sanskrit or Tibetan character and the corresponding Chinese character of Six-Word Apothegm in the sutra.

To increase the length of the bead chain, the number of spacers 2 can be doubled, which means repeating the words of lections again. Thus bead chains with different length and different lection can be made to facilitate users' selection.

EXAMPLES Example 1

Select 9 beads and 10 spacers, thread them onto a string, fix a pair of buttons at both ends of the string respectively, engrave the following 10 Tibetan characters and the

corresponding Chinese characters on the 10 spacers:

And engrave the following Six-Word Apothegm in the sutra on the buttons:

Example 2

Select 8 beads and 9 spacers, thread them onto a string, fix a pair of buttons at both ends of the string respectively, engrave the following 9 Tibetan characters and the corresponding Chinese characters on the 9 spacers:

And engrave the following Six-Word Apothegm in the sutra on the buttons:

Example 3

Select 13 beads and 14 spacers, thread them onto a string, fix a pair of buttons at both ends of the string respectively, engrave the following 7 Tibetan characters and the

corresponding Chinese characters on the 14 spacers, repeat every character one more time:

And engrave the following Six-Word Apothegm in the sutra on the buttons: 

1. A bead chain, which is made by threading beads of a specific shape onto a string or cord to form a chain and then joining the ends of the chain by means of buttons fixed at both ends of the string or cord, wherein spacers are inserted between the beads of said bead chain to form an alternating pattern.
 2. The bead chain according to claim 1, wherein the outer surfaces of said spacers are engraved with characters.
 3. The bead chain according to claim 1, wherein said characters engraved on the outer surfaces of the spacers are lections.
 4. The bead chain according to claim 3, wherein said characters engraved on the outer surfaces of the spacers are Sanskrit or Tibetan characters and the corresponding Chinese characters of lections.
 5. The bead chain according to claim 1, wherein said buttons at both ends of said bead chain are two separate half objects, whose outer surfaces are engraved with lections.
 6. The bead chain according to claim 5, wherein said buttons form a spherical or cylindrical shape after being joined.
 7. The bead chain according to claim 2, wherein said characters engraved on the outer surfaces of the spacers are lections.
 8. The bead chain according to claim 7, wherein said characters engraved on the outer surfaces of the spacers are Sanskrit or Tibetan characters and the corresponding Chinese characters of lections.
 9. A bead chain, comprising: a plurality of beads, each bead having a drilled through hole; a plurality of spacers, each spacer having a drilled through hole; a cord, said cord being threaded through said through holes of said beads and spacers to form a chain, said beads and spacers being positioned in alternating pattern; a first connector at first end of said chain; a second connector at second end of said chain.
 10. The bead chain according to claim 9, wherein the outer surfaces of said spacers are engraved with characters.
 11. The bead chain according to claim 9, wherein said characters engraved on the outer surfaces of the spacers are lections.
 12. The bead chain according to claim 11, wherein said characters engraved on the outer surfaces of the spacers are Sanskrit or Tibetan characters and the corresponding Chinese characters of lections.
 13. The bead chain according to claim 9, wherein said connectors at both ends of said bead chain are two mating objects, whose outer surfaces are engraved with lections.
 14. The bead chain according to claim 13, wherein said first and second connectors form a spherical or cylindrical shape after being joined.
 15. The bead chain according to claim 10, wherein said characters engraved on the outer surfaces of the spacers are lections.
 16. The bead chain according to claim 15, wherein said characters engraved on the outer surfaces of the spacers are Sanskrit or Tibetan characters and the corresponding Chinese characters of lections.
 17. The bead chain according to claim 9, wherein said spacers are smaller in diameter than said beads.
 18. The bead chain according to claim 15, wherein the number of spacers corresponds to the number of words in a paragraph of lection. 